Enteric coating question

[Pangolin]

I've asked this of several pharmacists- I'm a biochemist with some medical training- but haven't received an answer; perhaps someone here can help.

I need to run an experiment in which two enzymes are delivered to the small intestine; one is very air-sensitive. The other is very stable; I'm starting with the stable one.

My plan is to use Cellacefate (cellulose acetate phthalate) as the enteric coating; I have enough to run the experiment. I understand it is soluble in acetone, and I can get USP acetone. However, I have not been able to figure out precisely how to encapsulate the enzyme itself; it will be recovered from an aqueous solution, probably as fine crystals.

So, going from an aqueous suspension to an enteric-coated capsule is a big blank spot for me. Any insights from the pharmacy community would be welcome. Thanks in advance.

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[IWantTheGenetic]

"I've asked this of several pharmacists but haven't received an answer."

Maybe you should ask other biochemists . . .

 

[wes011]

The best person to ask would be someone with a PhD in pharmaceutics as they study the relationship between drug dosage forms and their efficacious use in patients.

 

[mickfan13]

Interesting question. In for answer.

 

[VCU07]

I've asked this of several pharmacists- I'm a biochemist with some medical training- but haven't received an answer; perhaps someone here can help.

I need to run an experiment in which two enzymes are delivered to the small intestine; one is very air-sensitive. The other is very stable; I'm starting with the stable one.

My plan is to use Cellacefate (cellulose acetate phthalate) as the enteric coating; I have enough to run the experiment. I understand it is soluble in acetone, and I can get USP acetone. However, I have not been able to figure out precisely how to encapsulate the enzyme itself; it will be recovered from an aqueous solution, probably as fine crystals.

So, going from an aqueous suspension to an enteric-coated capsule is a big blank spot for me. Any insights from the pharmacy community would be welcome. Thanks in advance.

Why not place the enzyme in an empty capsule then use the enteric coat?

 

[Pangolin]

Why not place the enzyme in an empty capsule then use the enteric coat?

An excellent idea, and one I have considered- but for how that the enzyme will still be wet (we're not sure if it is unduly damaged by lyophilization), and the capsule would probably get soggy and fall apart before the coating could be applied.

Right now, I'm looking at applying the solution to filter paper, and then precisely cutting a specific amount of paper to add to a capsule, then enteric-coating that. That will also allow precise quantification of the enzyme, provided the enzyme can be evenly dispersed over the surface of the filter paper prior to drying.

I can probably use a constant humidity solution to remove much of the moisture, rather than taking it to complete dryness.

Will report back if any better ideas come up.

 

[npage148]

If you are going to dose it orally as a tablet/capsule I don't see a way of getting around lyophilizing it. Then you could more easily formulate it. I'd check out the patents for the production of pancreatic enzyme formulations (enteric coated enzymes). That might give you a good starting place. Or you could dose it directly to the small intestine as a solution using a GI tube